The Salang pass has recently been closed due to the continuation of quality work inside the tunnel and on the two sides of the heavily mountainous Salang pass. The relatively mega-project, after completion, is expected to facilitate traffic including trade and transit and would have high economic benefits for the country, besides easing transportation for thousands of daily travelers between north and other zones of the country including the capital Kabul. According to the reports of the related organs, the quality construction work on the project needs enough time to complete, as during the past regimes no road along the country, particularly the vital Salang pass has been constructed with quality material. All these roads were destroyed few weeks after the reconstruction process. Even a single street has not been used quality materials on, during the reconstruction process. But, after the closure of the vital pass, the prices of some commodities; roughly as fuel have hiked that caused concerns for both the travelers and drivers. Citizens also complain about the rise in the prices of some edible items such as flour, rice and cooking oil. Travelers say they are being asked for high fares by the drivers, while the drivers say they have to pay more than usual for fuel after the rise in prices, since the closure of the Salang pass. The price of fuel has risen to more than ten Afghani following the closure of the highway as the related authorities announced the few-kilometer-long tunnel and the two sides of the Salang pass would take at least two months to complete. The entire people, particularly the residents of major cities are happy with the big project to have been launched few months ago and welcome the organs concerned for the launch of quality work in the mountainous highway, but ask for controlling the prices, mostly fuel. The government, besides successfully launching construction works should consider the problems of the people and control the prices, when it wants to launch a big project. On the other hand, launching construction work on a road requires the facilitation of an alternative way to be used by the citizens. Therefore, the related organs of the Islamic Emirate might have considered this problem and done their best to address this challenge prior to launching the project. Anyway, this can be addressed by seeking helpful ways and consultation with the country’s national traders. Both officials and the national traders should jointly work in controlling the prices and preventing the economic losses being faced by the people.
